Al-Nassr 1-0 Arkadag Highlights, AFC Champions League Two: Ronaldo-Less Hosts Coast Past 10-Man Opponents

Hello, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Two Round 16 second leg match against Arkadag. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: Al-Nassr vs Arkadag

• Series: AFC Champions League Two 2025-26

• Venue: Al-Awwal Park Stadium, Riyadh

• Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

• Time: 11:45 PM IST

The AFC Champions League Two matches, including Al-Nassr vs Arkadag and Al Ahli vs Sepahan, will be live-streamed in India on the FanCode app and website. The match will not be televised live on any TV channels.

Having resolved his issues with the Saudi Pro League and Al-Nassr hierarchy, Cristiano Ronaldo was pictured in training ahead of tonight's match. However, whether he will play tonight or not remains a mystery.

"Cristiano's age is different from the rest of the squad, and he has made a big effort in the previous matches," manager Jorge Jesus said yesterday. "We will decide whether he will participate or not after today's training session."

Starting XI: Nawaf Al Aqidi; Nawaf Boushal, Nader Al Sharari, Inigo Martinez, Salem Al Najdi; Ali Al Hassan; Ayman Yahya (c), Mohammed Maran, Angelo, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Abdullah Al Hamdan.

Bench: Bento (gk), Mubarak Al Buainain (gk), Abdulelah Al Amri, Sultan Al Ghannam, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Marcelo Brozovic, Kingsley Coman, Saad Haqawi, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Simakan.

Starting XI: Rasul Caryyev; Ybrayym Mammedov, Guycmyrat Annagulyyev, Mekan Saparow, Arzuvguly Sapargulyyev; Mirza Beknazarow, Welmyrat Ballakow; Yazgylyc Gurbanow, Abdy Byashimov (c), Shamammet Hydryow; Dayanch Meredov.

Bench: Rustem Ahallyyew (gk), Begenc Akmammedov, Bayram Ataev, Ahmed Atayew, Ilyas Charyyev, Meylis Dinyiew, Didar Durdyyew, Result Hojayew, Rahman Myratberdiyev, Berdimyrat Rejeboc, Yhlas Saparmammedow, Ykhlas Toydzhanov.

Referee Payam Heidari blows his whistle to get tonight's match underway at Al-Awwal Park. Stay tuned.

Just over a minute on the clock and Al-Nassr take the lead at home courtesy of a goal from Ghareeb, with a very good cross from the right by Boushal. What a start for the Ronaldo-less Saudi giants!!

Half an hour of football has been played in Riyadh. Other than the opening goal by Ghareeb, there has been little of note, with Arkadag yet to even have a shot off. Al-Nassr have dominated possession and have had three shots – two of them on target – but no clear cut chances since the opener.

It's half time in Riyadh, and Ghareeb's early strike means tha Al-Nassr lead 2-0 on aggregate and have one foot in the next stage.

The referee blows his whistle, and the players get the second half underway. Al-Nassr lead tonight as well as on aggregate in this Round of 16 tie. One change at the break for Arkadag, with Meredov coming off and Durdyew replacing him.

More of the same in the second half as well, with Al-Nassr completely dictacting the tempo of the game. Yahya is caught offside after being teed up by Angelo. That has been the story of Al-Nassr – a lot of attacking aggression without the finishing touch. They have the players on the bench for that.

With time running out to salvage this draw, Arkadag make a double change. Myratberdiyew and Atayev come on for the visitors, with Gurbanow and Ballakov making way.

A double change for the home side, with Jorge Jesus bringing on the star players – Kingsley Coman and Sultan Al Ghanam. Making the way are Ayman Ahmed and Salem Al Najdi. Can Al-Nassr find a second goal and bury the tie?

It goes from bad to worse for Arkadag as Annagulyyew is sent off by the referee. The Arkadag player was initially booked for a bad foul on Ghareeb, but VAR asks the referee to take another look at it. Payam Heidari upgrades it to red.